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Prime time games, even on Big Ten Network, are the goal of top college football programs. They are a chance to show off the program to potential recruits and gain national exposure. Also, since alumni get excited for them, they are good for everyone.
We can expect Purdue to miss out on these events, however, as the Boilers have just one prime time game on any platform now that the Big Ten Network schedule has been announced. That game is only because of the generosity of Notre Dame moving their home game with us to Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13. As we know, even that (virtually guaranteed) prime time game will go by the wayside after this season, as the powers that be decided that one game per year where Purdue is at least on the national radar due to a continuous near 70-year rivalry was not worth saving.
Here is your full prime time schedule with networks before I get into pro-lights, anti-Burke rant.
First, the Big Ten Network games:
Saturday, September 13th:
7:00PM CT: Penn State @ Rutgers.
Saturday, September 27th:
5:00PM CT: Cincinnati @ Ohio State.
8:00PM CT: Illinois @ Nebraska
Saturday, October 4th:
5:00PM CT: Michigan @ Rutgers
Saturday, October 18th:
6:30PM CT: Nebraska @ Northwestern
Saturday, November 15th:
7:00PM CT: Michigan State @ Maryland
Of note: Northwestern is not afraid to pay for temporary lights.
Here are the other Prime time games:
Sept. 6
Virginia Tech at Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Sept. 13
Purdue vs. Notre Dame at Lucas Oil Stadium, NBC
Sept. 20
Miami at Nebraska, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 4
Nebraska at Michigan State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 11
Penn State at Michigan, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2*
Oct. 25
Ohio State at Penn State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Nov. 1
Illinois at Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Also of note, Michigan State is not afraid to pay for temporary lights for a night game, either. Purdue is notably absent, and the record issue cannot be used because Illinois somehow got two night games and Northwestern one.